Shopping in Shanghai: Complete Guide
Updated September 2026 · 9 min read
Shanghai is a shopper's paradise — from luxury malls to bustling street markets. Here's everything you need to know about shopping in Shanghai, from our local team at Shanghai Private Transfers.
🛍️ Best Shopping Areas
Nanjing Road (East)
What to buy: Everything — international brands, Chinese souvenirs, snacks
Type: Pedestrian shopping street
Best for: First-time visitors, souvenir shopping
Tip: Very touristy and busy. Fun to walk around but don't expect bargain prices.
Xintiandi / Taikoo Hui
What to buy: Luxury brands, designer stores, trendy boutiques
Type: Upscale shopping district
Best for: High-end shopping, cafes, people-watching
Tianzifang
What to buy: Art, crafts, souvenirs, local designer goods
Type: Art district alleyways
Best for: Unique souvenirs, arty stuff
Yuyuan Old Street
What to buy: Chinese souvenirs, tea, silk, antiques (not real!)
Type: Traditional Chinese market street
Best for: Souvenir shopping, snacks
Shopping Tour by Private Car
We'll take you to all the best shopping spots, wait while you browse, and help with haggling!
Book Shopping Tour🎁 What to Buy in Shanghai
Tea (Longjing, Pu'er)
Chinese tea is famous worldwide. Buy from reputable shops — not street stalls. Longjing (Dragon Well) green tea from Hangzhou is the most famous.
Where: Yuyuan Old Street tea shops, or go to Hangzhou tea village on a day trip
Silk Products
Shanghai and Suzhou are famous for silk. Silk scarves, pajamas, ties — great gifts.
Where: Silk shops on Nanjing Road, or Suzhou Silk Museum
Chinese Souvenirs
Chinese calligraphy, chopsticks, paper cuts, lanterns — classic gifts to bring home.
Where: Yuyuan Old Street, Tianzifang
Electronics & Gadgets
Great prices on phones, accessories, and electronics.
Where: Xujiahui electronics market
💰 Haggling Tips
- 💴 Haggle at markets — street markets expect you to bargain. Start at 50% of the asking price.
- 🏬 Don't haggle in malls — fixed price everywhere else.
- 😊 Be friendly — haggling is a game, not a fight. Smile and have fun with it.
- 🚶 Walk away — if the price isn't right, pretend to leave. Often they'll call you back with a better price.
- 👥 Buy more = better price — buy 2-3 items and you'll get a discount.
💳 Payment Tips
- 📱 WeChat Pay / Alipay — almost everywhere accepts these. Link your foreign card.
- 💵 Cash still useful — for street markets and small stalls.
- 💳 Credit cards accepted — in malls and hotels. Smaller places might not take them.
More Shanghai travel guides: travel blog